Nutritional Disorder Commonly Found in Nigeria
Chapter one
Objective Of The Study
The specific aims of this project includes:
- To identify some nutritional disorders prevalent in Nigeria in a bid to assess their effects.
- To recognize the causes of such disorders
- To outline the possible prevention of such nutritional disorders.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
HISTORY OF NUTRITIONAL DISORDER
Nutritional disorder is detected early through the awareness that persons in certain circumstances have a high risk of under nutrition. Under nutrition is associated with poverty and social deprivation, occurring among the poor, including some immigrants arriving from developing countries. The risks of under nutrition is also greater at certain times in a person’s life, i.e. infancy, early childhood, adolescence, pregnancy and lactation and old age. (www.studenttechnologycom.).
In infancy and childhood, because of the high demand for energy and essential nutrients, infants and children at particular risk of under nutrition. Protein energy malnutrition in children consuming inadequate amounts of protein, calories and other nutrients is a particularly severe form of under nutrition that retards growth and development. It was review that hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, a life – threatening disorder, is due to inadequate vitamin K. Deficiency of iron, folic acid, vitamin C, copper, zinc and vitamin A may occur in inadequately fed infants and children (www.studenttechnologycom.)
It is said that during pregnancy and lactation, requirement for all nutrients increase, therefore abbreviation of diet including pica, are common in pregnancy which lead to the disease of anaemia due to folic acid deficiency. An exclusively breastfed infants develop vitamin B12 deficiency if the mother is a vegan. Malnutrition result from imbalance, between the body’s need and the intake of nutrients which lead to syndromes of deficiency like:- Kwashiorkor, Marasmus, beriberi, goiter, anaemia, scurvy and ricket and osteomalacia etc. (www.studenttechnologycom.).
Nutritional disorders are common in young children in developing countries and constitute a major public health problem. The incidence rates varies from country to country, depending on the biological characteristics and socio-economic status of the population. The importance of adequate nutrient of infants has been recognized showed evidence or inadequate protein, energy, vitamins and minerals. It was confirmed that inadequate iron intake lead to anaemia with low package cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin concentration by (Dallman et al. 1984).
Nutrient disorder was earlier reported as a major contributing factor predisposing of diarrhea and vomiting in infants by (Watson and Petson, 1984). This is because the mucosal. Surfaces in these children are particularly susceptible to invasion by micro – organisms, and decreased immune system within this age range. (Hamidu et al. 2003).
Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is particularly serious in post – weaning and often associated with infections. The most common diseases associated with severe PEM are respiratory infections, diarrhea and vomiting that PEM has casting effect an growth and development of children, learning ability and social awdjustment. (Donald, 1991).
The term PEM covers a whole range of deficiency states from mild to severe and is defined as a range of pathological conditions arising from coincident lack in varying proportion of protein and calories, occurring most frequently in infants or young children. Listemick in 1985 reported that in developing countries approximately 65% of children under the age of 5 years are malnourished and 50% of these children died as a result of PEM. (Hamidu et al, 2003).
In Nigeria, most of the data reported on PEM are from the Southern part of the country. These data indicated PEM to be one of the major cause of child – death in Nigeria. This is because most families do not provide enough protein supplementation to their weaning children while carbohydrate is usually adequate. (Hamidu et al, 2003).
DIAGNOSIS OF NUTRITIONAL DISORDER
Malnutrition results from imbalance between the body’s need and the intake of nutrients, which leads to syndromes of deficiency, depending, toxicity. Under nutrition can result from inadequate intake, malabsorption, abnormal systemic, loss of nutrient due to diarrhea or excessive sweating, infection or addition to drug. Under nutrition develops in stages, which usually require considerable time. First, nutrient levels in blood and or tissues changes followed by intracellular changes in biochemical function and structure. Ultimately, symptoms and signs appear, morbidity and mortility can result. (www.studenttechnologycom.).
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Most materials and methods are base on the Anthropometric studies. Anthropmetric measurement refers to the determinations of the size and proportion of the human body, especially height and weight, fats and skin folds, which are the compared with standards to determine duration or conformance. Envelop and skeletal, head circumference, chest, abdomen, buttocks, thigh, calf and ankle measurements are also commonly used to determine physical proportions of the human body as a measure of nutritional status. (Akinjayeju, 2004).
The biochemical assessment involves the evaluation of the fluids and tissues in order to assess either the storage or mobile forms of nutrients. The most common tissue for biochemical assessment is the blood, since it is the method by which most nutrients, metabolites and waste products are transported in the body. Moreover, blood samples for evaluation are easy to take and such samples are easily stored without any offensive odour unlike, say urine and faeces. (Akinjayeju, 2004).
Changes in the levels of blood constituents are indicative of changes in nutrition and metabolism, which may be a direct consequence of poor or inadequate nutrition. Apart from the blood, biochemical assessment studies are often limited and their application depends on available laboratory facilities. (Akinjayeju, 2004).
METHOD OF IDENTIFYING KWASHIORKOR
In the present study, the modified welcome classification was used to classify the protein energy malnourished children into kwashiorkor, marasmic – kwashiorkor, marasmus and underweight.
One hundred and twenty (70 male and 50 female) children were studied at the paediatric wards of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the state specialist hospital, Maiduguri for the state of the weaning children in Borno State. The children were between the age of 6 and 24 months.
The investigation covered a period of 4 months during which all the cases of malnourished children admitted were recorded. The diagnosis of protein – energy malnutrition was based on the usual standard, i.e mid arm and head circumferences, skin folds, height and weight, modified on Welcome’s classification. (Hamidu et al, 2003).
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Nutritional deficiency, resulting in malnutrition or disease, is one of the major problems in modern society despite adequate food supply. A number of diseases can appear when there is a deficiency of one or more nutrients. Most diseases caused by such deficiencies are PEM, vitamin C deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, iron deficiency and iodine deficiency. (John, 1999).
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION
Inadequate dietary intake and diseases particularly infection, are immediately causes of malnutrition. It is obvious that each person must eat an adequate amounts of good quality and safe food throughout the year to meet all nutritional needs for body maintenance, work and recreation and for growth and development in children.
Similarly one must be able to digest, absorb and utilize the food and nutrients effectively. Poor diets and diseases are often the result of insufficient household food. Security, inappropriate care and feeding practices and inadequate health care.
RECOMMENDATION
Malnutrition may manifest itself as a health problem and health professionals can provide some answers but they alone cannot solve the problems of malnutrition. Agriculture and often agricultural professionals are required to ensure that enough foods, and the right kinds of foods, are provided.
Educators, both formal and non-formal, are required to assist people, particularly women in achieving and ensuring good nutrition. Tackling malnutrition often require the contribution of professionals in economics, social development, politics, government, the labour movement and many other spheres.
REFERENCES
- Adewusi S. R, Torimiro St, Akindahunsi AA, (2002); Prediction of nutritional status by chemical analysis of Urine and anthropometric method. Nutritional Health. Vol. 16(3), page 195 – 2002.
- Akinjayeju, O. (1999); dietary deficiency diseases. Food and Nutrition for school and colleges. Concept Publishing Babs Olatunji Enterprise 3, Adedoyin Street, Off Eyo Street, Shomolu, Lagos. Vol. 1. Foods, Nutrition and Health, page 40 – 50.
- Akinjayeju, O. (2004): Dietary deficiency diseases Fundamentals of Human and Applied Nutrition Vol. 2: Metabolism and Nutritional deficiency diseases. Concept publishing 17, Olorunsogo Street, Shomolu P. O. Box 2516, Mushin Lagos, Nigeria, Page 77-81.
- Donald, (1999), Protein – Energy – Malnutrition, Children, maiduguri, Nigeria, Prevalence. African Journal of Biomedical Research. Vol. 6(3), page 123-127.
- Dallman et al (1984): Protein – Energy – Malnutrition, maiduguri, Nigeria, Prevalence. African Journal of Biomedical Research, vol. 6 number 3, page 123-127.
- Etukudo MH, Agbeda E. O. Akinyinka O. O. and Osifo b. O., (1999) plasma electrolytes, total cholesterol live enzymes and selected antioxidant